Headgear for skullguards



June 21, 1955 'c. E. BOWERS 2,710,965

. HEADGEAR FOR SKULLGUARDS Filed April 21, 1952 fshmts-sneet 1 INVENTOR. (HA/215$ [sou/ms,

///5 ATTORNEY- June 21, 1955 c. E. BOWERS 2,710,955

HEADGEAR FOR SKULLGUARDS Filed April 21, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. 0944,9415; E. BOW/5Q;

United States Patent HEADGEAR FOR SKULLGUARDS Charlies Evans Bowers, Moylan, Pa., assignor to The Fibre Metal Products Company, Chester, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 21, 1952, Serial N 0. 283,372

9 Claims. (Cl. 23)

The present invention has to do with the headgear that is commonly employed for the purpose of mounting a hard hat or shell that is commonly known as a skullguard in spaced relation to the head of a wearer and is concerned primarily with certain novel structural features which afford practical advantages under conditions of actual usage.

A skullguard is a type of hat that is worn by mechanics, workmen, and others engaged in activities in which they are subject to danger from falling objects. Such a skull.- guard consists essentially of a hard casing or shell that is somewhat larger than the wearers head and is intended to be supported in spaced relation with respect to the head of a wearer. A headgear is employed for this purpose. Such a headgear includes as essential elements, a head-encircling band and a spider-like structure that snugly fits over the head of the wearer with provision being made for attaching the skullguard in such a manner that it is suspended in spaced relation to the wearers head.

An important object of the present invention is to provide, in a headgear for skullguards, a head covering part that is highly simplified in that it is made from a single piece of material which includes a plurality of legs that are integrally joined at the top. In accordance with the present invention, this head covering part is made from an appropriate plastic because such a material readily lends itself to being molded into the desired shape.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide, in a headgear of the type indicated, a head covering part including a plurality of downwardly extending legs with each leg being provided on its outer face with a bracket strip having a free end that is normally spaced from the free end of the leg. The free end of each of these bracket strips is permanently connected to the skullguard while the free end of each leg is detachably secured to a headband which is included as apart of the headgear.

Inasmuch as the headgear is intended to snugly fit the head of a wearer, it is highly important, if not absolutely necessary, that the head encircling band be adjustable to vary its extent so that an accurate fit with the head of any particular wearer may be obtained.

Thus, another highly important object of the invention is to provide, in a headgear of the character noted, an adjustable headband including new, improved, and highly simplified mechanism for adjusting the extent thereof.

In carrying out this objective, the main body portionof the headband consists of a strip of plastic with both ends of the strip being formed with a series of openings. Each of these ends is slidably received in one end of a flattened out tubular casing that is made of fiber and,

curved to conform to the shape of the wearers head. This tubular casing carries a double leaf spring each end of which has a pin which passes through an opening in the outer casing wall and is adapted to be received in any of the openings at the end of the plastic strip. The par-' ticular openings of the plastic strip in which the pins are received determine the extent of the headband.

, 2,710,965 Patented June 21, 1955' Due to the manner in which these headgears are worn, it is common practice to cover the headband with a sweat band. Moreover, it becomes desirable, if not necessary, from time to time to change this sweat band and replace it with a new one.

Thus, still another object is to provide, in a headgear of the type aforesaid, a headband which includes a removable sweat band that covers the plastic strip with the connections between the headband and the legs of the head covering part being of such a character as to permit in the first instance, the detachment of the headband from the legs and in the second instance, the removal of the sweat band from the headband.

This end is obtained by employing a conventional snap fastener comprising two complemental elements at the end of each leg. The female element is permanently secured to the leg while the male element is permanently anchored to the plastic strip of the headband. This male element carries a stud which extends through an opening in the sweat band to hold the latter in position and has a projecting portion that is detachably received in the female element in a well-known manner.

, Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in conection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated, as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a headgear that is intended to be used as a support for a skullguard and which headgear consists of a one piece head covering part, having a plurality of downwardly extending legs which are integrally joined at the top with each leg carrying on its outer face a bracket strip having a free end that is spaced from the free end of the leg. The skullguard is permanently attached to the free ends of these bracket strips while a headband is detachably secured by snap fasteners to the free ends of the legs. The headband is adjustable in extent and includes a removable sweat band. The particular mechanism providing for the adjustment of the headband is a part of the invention.

For a full and more complete. understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view partially in elevation and partly in section showing a skullguard with the headgear of this invention associated therewith, a portion of the skullguard being broken away.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the headgear as assembled in a skullguard.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective of the head covering element per se with one of the bracket strips depicted in exploded relation.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of that portion of the headband which includes the adjusting mechanism with parts being broken away and shown in section; and

Figure 5 is a view in rear elevation taken normal to the showing of Figure 4 and illustrating the headband in an opened position.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference constructional industries.

The skullguard S is intended to be supported in spaced relation from the head of the wearer by a headgear which is referred to in its entirety by the reference character H. The headgear H comprises a head covering part 10 which is a one pieceaifair and which includes a central 3 dome like portion 11- from which depend a plurality legs 12 with the upper ends of the legs being integrally joined to the dome like part 11. In the form of the in vention illustrated in the drawings, the head covering part includes six of these legs 12, th1'ee being. located. on each side. It is to be clearly understood, however, that this number is merely an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention and not a limitationthere- The part 10 is made from an appropriate synthetic plastic that is adapted to be molded into the shape illustrated. The invention has particularly in mind the use of acetate as this plastic material; however,.there are other well-known plastics such as vinyl chloride which would also prove suitable.

Secured to the outer face of each leg 12.at an appreciable distance from the freeend thereof. is a bracket strip 13. These bracket strips 13 are also of plastic preferably being made of the same plastic as that used in making the head covering part 10. The anchorage of the upper end of each bracket strip 13 to the respective leg 12 by which it is carried may be effected in. any preferred manner such as by using an adhesive cement, stitching, or by the rivets illustrated at. 14 which may be taken as the preferred embodiment. After the upper end of the bracket strips 13 have been connected to the legs 12 in the manner above described, the lower free ends of these bracket. strips will be in spaced relation to. the lower free ends of the legs 12, this spacing being clearly indicated at 15.

The outer faces of the lower free ends of the bracket strips 13 engage the inner face of the. skullguardS ad.- jacent to the lower edge thereof and. are permanently. secured therethrough in any preferred manner such as by the rivets illustrated at 16. These rivets pass through aligned openings in the skullguards. and. bracket strips respectively. The rivet openings in the bracket strips are represented at 17.

Carried by each leg 12 adjacent to the lower. free end thereof is the female element 18 of a conventional snap fastener. Snap fasteners of this type are now wellknown and available to the public as such. It is, therefore, deemed unnecessary to describe such snap fasteners in detail other than to point out thatthefemaleelement 18 presents an inwardly opening socket that isadapted to receive the stud of the male. element asawill. be later pointed out.

Referring now more particularly to FiguresA. and. 5,. a portion of a headband is therein illustrated and. Ice ferred to in its entirety by the referencecharacter B. The headband B comprises a main body portion or. strip 19 which preferably is made of the. same plastic asthat.

used in making the head covering part L0 and bracket strips 13. Permanently anchored to the strip 19. are male elements 20 of the snap fastener; the elcmentsZlLheiug complemental to the female. elements. 18.. Obviously, there will be a male element 20. foreachfemale. element.

18 with the spacing of the male elements 20 correspond?- ing to the spacing of the free. ends, of the legs-.12.. Each of these elements 20 includes astud .21 which isadapted;

to be snapped into the socket of the respective female,

element 18. A flattened out tubular casing is. referred to in its entirety by the reference character, C. This cas: ing C is preferably made from a fibrous: materiaLthat. is. now wellknown in the field of head. protective equipment and which is susceptible, to being molded into thedesired: shape. The casing C includes aninner wall 21 and an: outer wall 23 which areuniformly. spaced, apart-with the inner wall 22 being curvedto conformto the,shape,.of the;.

wearers head. Each end of this strip.19 is formed, a series of openings 24 and is slidably:receivedimtheadjacent end of the casing C between the. walls 22- andi 23a The extent to which either end. is inserted into thewcasing C may be varied.

A double leaf spring 25 is anchoredat itstrniddleto;

the outer casing wall 23 in any preferred manner such as the rivet shown at 26. Each end of this leaf spring 25 carries a pin 27 which extends through an opening in the outer casing wall 23 and into any of the openings 24 which may be in alignment therewith. When so positioned in one of the openings 24, that end of the strip 19 is held against movement relative to the casing C.

Each end of the leaf spring 25 is provided with an outwardly curved finger engaging tab 28 which facilitates manipulation of the springto withdraw the pin 27 at that end from the opening 24 in which it is fitted to permit of adjustment.

A sweat band as shown at 29 covers the strip 19. This sweat band is preferably of leather or a comparable material which affords a comfortable fit on the wearers head. It is of a flattened out tubular construction and the outer wall thereof is formed with a series of openings 3Q (see Figure 5) with a stud 21 of one of the snap fasteners 20'passingthrough this opening. Thus, the studs 21. not only constitute parts of the snap fasteners but also-serve to; hold the. sweat band 29 in position on the mainbody. strip 19 of the headband.

Operation While. the mode of operation and manner of using the headbandl of this. invention is believed to be obvious from. the illustration. of the drawings and description of parts. given, it. may be briefly outlined as follows:

With the outer free ends of the brackets 13 permanently secured to the skull'guard S by the rivets 16, the skullguard'may b'e donned'by a wearer. If the headband should not. accurately and comfortably fit the wearers head, his extent may be adjusted by removing one or both ofthe pins 27 from the hole 24 in which it is received andmaking the necessary adjustment. After this adjustment has been made, the pins will normally return to their locking position and be maintained therein by the natural effects of the spring.

When occasion arises that it becomes desirable to replace the sweat band 29 with a fresh sweat band, the connection of each snap fastener is broken by removing each stud 21 from the socket of the female element in a well known manner. After this has been done, the headbandfmay be removed as a separate entity. The main body strip 19 is now removed entirely from the casing C with this separation being permitted by first retracting bothends ofthe spring 25to withdraw both pins 27 from the openings 24;

After the strip'19 has been freed from the casing, the outer wall" of the sweat band is deformed to move the openings 30" beyond. the studs 21. The sweat band 29 may' now. be slipped'off the strip 19' and replaced by a new one.

While a-preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinliefore sct'forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact materials; mechanisms, and devices illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided'in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

Whafis claimed is:

1'. In a headgear for skullguards, a one piece head coverjng mem'ber comprisinga central dome and a plurality of'legs integrally joined thereto and outstanding therefrom; aplurality of bracket strips corresponding in number to said legs with each bracket strip having its uppenend secured to its respective, leg on the outer face'thereoffat a pointspaced from the free end of said leg the free end of each bracket strip being in spaced relation with respect to the free end of the leg by which it is carried, means at the free end of each bracket strip for, connecting. the same to a skullguard, and means at the free; end.of each leg for detachably connecting the same to; a headband.

2. In a headgear.- for. skullgu r a one piece h covering member made of plastic and comprising a central dome with a plurality of legs integrally joined to and outstanding from said dome, a bracket strip on the outer face of each leg and having a free end spaced from the free end of said leg, means for permanently securing the free end of each bracket strip to a skullguard, and an element of a detachable connection on the free end of each leg, for detachably securing the same to a headband.

3. In a headguard for skullguards, a one piece head covering member, a plurality of bracket strips carried by said head covering member, means for securing the ends of said bracket strips to a skullguard, an adjustable headband detachably secured to said head covering member, and a sweat band removably carried by said headband.

4. In a headguard for skullguards, a head covering member and an adjustable headband detachably secured to said head covering member, said headband comprising a main body strip having each of its end portions formed with a longitudinally extending series of openings, a plurality of male elements of snap fasteners carried by said main body strip for attaching the headband to said head covering member, a sweatband removably enveloping said headband and being provided with openings for said elements to pass through, a flattened out tubular casing having inner and outer walls spaced apart and curved to conform to the shape of a wearers head, the ends of said main body strip being slidably received in said casing, a double leaf spring carried by the outer casing wall, said outer casing wall being formed with an opening adjacent each end thereof, and a pin carried by said double leaf spring at each end thereof, said pin being adapted to pass through the casing Wall at each end and into one of the openings in the strip that is received in that end of the casing.

5. In a headgear for skullguards, a head covering member and a headband detachably secured to said head covering member, said headband comprising a main body strip having a longitudinal series of openings adjacent each end thereof, a plurality of male elements of snap fasteners carried by said main body strip for attaching the headband to said head covering member, a sweatband removably enveloping said headband and being provided with openings for said elements to pass through, a flattened out tubular casing of curved formation slidably receiving the ends of said strip, a double leaf spring anchored at its center to said outer casing wall, and a pair of pins carried by said spring at the opposite ends thereof and adapted for cooperation with said main body strip openings to lock either end of said strip in an adjusted position relative to said casing.

6. In a headgear for skullguards, a one piece head covering member including a central dome and a plurality of legs outstanding therefrom and integrally attached thereto, the female element of a snap fastener mounted at the free end of each of said legs, a headband having a corresponding number of the male elements of snap fasteners secured thereto, and a sweat band having a plurality of openings therein and enveloping said headband, the said sweatband being removably held in position on said headband by said male elements of the snap fasteners passing through said openings.

7. In a headgear for skullguards, a one piece head covering member including a dome and a plurality of legs outstanding therefrom, a bracket strip on the outer face of each leg having a free end spaced from the end of the leg by which it is carried, means at the free end of each bracket strip for securing the same to a skullguard, the female element of a snap fastener at the free end of each leg presenting an inwardly opening socket, and an adjustable headband including a main body strip, and a plurality of the male elements of the snap fasteners carried by said main body strip, said male elements corresponding in number and arrangement to said female elements on the legs and presenting outwardly extending studs which are detachably received in said sockets in the female elements.

8. In a headgear for skullguards, a one piece head covering member including a dome and a plurality of legs outstanding therefrom, a bracket strip on the outer face of each leg having a free end spaced from the end of the leg by which it is carried, means at the free end of each bracket strip for securing the same to a skullguard, thefemale element of a snap fastener at the free end of each leg presenting an inwardly opening socket, and an adjustable headband including a main body strip, and a plurality of male elements of snap fasteners corresponding in number and arrangement to said female elements carried by said main body strip with each male element presenting an outwardly extending stud, and a sweat band enveloping said main body strip and having an outer wall formed with openings through which said studs pass to removably secure said sweat band in position.

9. In an adjustable headgear for skullguards, a onepiece head covering including a dome and a plurality of legs integrally outstanding therefrom; a plurality of bracket strips carried by said head covering; means for securing the ends of said bracket strips to a skullguard; an adjustable headband detachably secured to said head covering; and a sweat band removably enveloping said headband; the said headband comprising a main body strip having a longitudinal series of openings adjacent each end thereof, a flattened tubular casing of curved formation slidably receiving the ends of said strip, a double leaf spring anchored at its center to said tubular casing wall, and a pair of pins carried by said spring at the opposite ends thereof and adapted for cooperation with said openings to lock either end of said strip in an adjusted position relative to said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 330,152 Rammoser Nov. 10, 1885 1,199,629 Stocks Sept. 26, 1916 2,167,969 Bowers Aug. 1, 1939 2,371,712 Scholl-et al Mar. 20, 1945 

